Five transportation projects jump-started with money from the Ohio Turnpike

LIMA - (Thursday, April 10, 2014) – Gov. John R. Kasich’s Jobs and Transportation Plan is fueling a $2.5 billion state construction season – the largest ever – that will put more Ohioans back to work building some of the state’s largest transportation projects.

Just a few years ago, transportation officials were forced to push back – sometimes by decades – many of the transportation projects communities need in order to improve motorist safety and local economic vitality. In response, Kasich unlocked the value of the Ohio Turnpike to bond $1.5 billion to help fill the gap. That money, combined with federal state and local investments over six years, will allow for $3 billion in new infrastructure spending – and much of that work begins this year.

“Ohio is leading the Midwest in job creation over the past three years and our highways are critical to our ability to keep our job creation momentum,” said Kasich. “By thinking creatively, we were able to develop a solution that will allow us to move ahead sooner with some key projects across the state and as a result, the future of our roadways is much better than it was a few years ago.”

The Ohio Department of Transportation’s (ODOT) 2014 construction season includes 936 different projects throughout the state totaling $2.5 billion.

The Ohio Turnpike is partially or entirely funding multiple phases of five different projects that will begin or continue this year, including:

·Construction of Cleveland’s eastbound George V. Voinovich Bridge in Cleveland

·Interstate 75 highway reconstruction program through Wood and Hancock counties

·Reconstruction of State Route 57 in Lorain County

·Widening of Interstate 271 in northern Summit County

·Construction of Cleveland’s Opportunity Corridor

Locally, motorists will see work either begin or continue on a number of transportation projects including:

·The continuation of the reconstruction of Interstate 75 from just south of Fourth Street to Ohio 81 in Lima and the beginning of work on the segment from Fourth Street to the Auglaize County line south of Lima.

·The reconstruction of the U.S. 224 interchange with Interstate 75 in Findlay

·Rehabilitation of joints and deteriorated sections of pavement on Interstate 75 from Ohio 235 to Lima Avenue, Hancock County.

For a list of major projects statewide, click here. For information provided at ODOT District 1’s local event, clickhere.